By Dr. Toby Dayrit and Ms. Tess Corpuz
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) conducted a one-day Basic Training Program on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) last October 27, 2012, at the Ateneo de Davao University.
Ms. Teresita Corpuz
Ms. Marila Palisoc
This Basic GHS course was conducted by Ms. Teresita B. Corpuz and Ms. Marila Palisoc as trainers and was attended by 65 participants mainly from the Mindanao area from academe, government, industry, and chemical transport sectors.
The objectives of the Basic GHS course are: to provide background on how and why the GHS was developed, to discuss the purposes, objectives and benefits of the GHS, to present the scope and application of the GHS and its basic elements, and to understand the GHS in relation to other international agreements and standards.
The GHS training program is being undertaken by the ICP through funds provided by the the Board of Investment (BOI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The BOI is the focal point of the the country’s project called: “National Strategic Plan to Implement GHS”, which is funded by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Through this project, the ICP is tasked to assist the BOI in the conduct of GHS awareness seminars and workshops and to strengthen the involvement of stakeholders, such as industry, public interest and labor organizations.
The GHS is a new internationally-agreed tool for chemical hazard communication, incorporating harmonized chemical hazard classification criteria and provisions for standardized labels and safety data sheets.
GHS seminars and workshops will enable the concerned chemistry community to be able to understand how to classify the hazards of chemical substances and mixtures and be able to properly label them.
The seminars and workshops include Basic and Advance GHS Training. The ICP shall be conducting an Advanced GHS Training on November 27 to 29, 2012, at the Makati Palace Hotel.